Biochar is a part of the solution for cotton crop sustainable cultivation, there is a need to create large scale awareness among the farmers to continue traditional best practices of Biochar application and also adopt appropriate best technologies for improving the fertility of the soils and their sustainability.

A method has been evolved for creating Biochar Compost, using biochar + Farm yard Manure + soil microbes. 40 to 50% Biochar + 10 to 20% green leaves + 30 to 40% Farm Yard Manure (vermi-compost can also be used) + TricodermaViridea half KG each for 100 kgsbiochar compost. In the above proportion all the ingradients are mixed and kept in a shaded place, by covering with palm leaves / dry paddy straw. Water was sprinkled and mixed it well every alternate day. The temperature was around 30 deg centigrade within the compost at the end. This Biochar compost is applied to the fields after 12 to 15 days. During application the field was wet, that is after rains or irrigation.

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ResultsThe Biochar applied by the farmers as Biochar compost yielded good results. 1 kg charcoal for 1 sq meter area, along with compost of equal quantity. For 1 hectare or 10000 sq meters of area, the charcoal required is 10000 kgs or 10 tonnes. Charcoal at the rate of Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 per KG either produced by themselves or purchased would cost them from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 per hectare apart from the cost for compost. Therefore it is not feasible for farmers to apply the Biochar immediately in their respective fields in such huge quantities. As the affect of charcoal lasts more than 1000 years, the farmers could apply the charcoal every year, some quantity, they could reach the desired quantity say in next 10 years. The soil would also be able to adopt to these amendments along with soils microbes colonization slowly. The experience of the farmers regarding the charcoal application in the fields is more important, so in the future all the biomass generated in the fields would be utilized for generating Biochar and left in the field. GSBC Project could create large scale awareness among farmers regarding Biochar application and preparation of the Biochar compost. During open burning of the cotton stalks the biomass is getting converted into ash. The farmers were trained on converting the cotton stalks into Biochar through simple methods and technologies.

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GOOD STOVES AND BIOCHAR COMMUNITIES PROJECTGSBC PROJECT, being implemented in parts of Andhra Pradesh State is an integrated project.This project started in May 2009, Geoecology Energy Organisation is responsible for planning, implementation and monitoring of the project. The “Alternative Carbone Project” portfolio of Action Carbone has promoted this project to be implemented in the rural areas of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. http://www.biocharindia.com | http://www.e-geo.orghttp://www.goodstove.comGroup: http://groups.google.com/group/biocharindia